UrbanBEE reaches the roof of Austria’s Federal Ministry of Climate and Environmental Protection

(about Theresa Ranieri's PhD Project)

Cities are often seen as biodiversity deserts. But with the right habitats and a little help from people, urban environments can become important refuges for wildlife - including pollinators. This week, the citizen science project UrbanBEE reached a new milestone: the installation of the 200th wild bee hotel in Vienna, on the rooftop of the Austrian Umweltministerium. Solitary bees play a critical role in pollination and ecosystem functioning. While the honeybee often receives the most public attention, Europe hosts hundreds of wild bee species that are essential to both natural ecosystems and agricultural areas. Cities can provide surprising opportunities for these species: Gardens, parks, green rooftops and even balconies create a mosaic of habitats that may support pollinators - if suitable nesting sites and floral resources are available. The goal of UrbanBEE is to better understand how wild bees use these urban habitats and how cities can be designed to support them.

credit: BMLUK

👉 Read the full story in HEUTE https://www.heute.at/i/umweltminister-totschnig-geht-jetzt-unter-die-hoteliers-120167066/doc-1jivbee444

UrbanBEE is a citizen science project led by researchers at the University of Vienna in collaboration with the AGES and partners across Europe and Southern Africa. Around 200 volunteers across Vienna participate by installing standardised wild bee hotels in their gardens or on balconies and regularly documenting bee activity. These observations provide valuable data for research. By recording which nesting holes are occupied and when they are sealed, participants help scientists track nesting success and seasonal activity of wild bees across the city.